EDUCATION campaigners staging an occupation at a south London college were forced to leave under threat of arrest yesterday as the council pressed on with privatisation plans.

Supporters of the campaign to save Lewisham Southwark College (Lesoco) from closure entered the Camberwell campus late on Sunday night, expecting to find the building empty for the summer holidays.

But people attending jobcentre workshops held at the site yesterday raised the alarm and management called the police.

An occupier, who requested to remain anonymous, told the Star that by 10.30am the group had been forced out after “police threatened to have us all done for aggravated trespass.”

The man added that he was motivated to join the protest because Southwark council would “destroy the English for speakers of other languages (Esol) provisions in the area.

“It’s basic privatisation of all further education (FE) in Southwark.”

The group of around 15 people later reconvened and called an emergency rally outside the college for later in the day.

Student unions and campaigns across the country were quick to send their messages to the occupiers.

Academics’ union UCU FE committee vice-chairman Richard McEwan urged his members to show their support.

Lambeth College faces similar attacks and its UCU branch secretary Mandy Brown said: “It is about time people took direct action against this government’s cuts to FE and the privatisation of our colleges.

“FE in south London is being decimated, as sites at Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Morley colleges and beyond are being sold off for profit, leaving communities without any of the courses that provide lifelines to so many vulnerable people.”

Action came after months of peaceful protests outside Lesoco’s campuses against plans to sell the college.

Southwark Council’s cabinet announced on July 9 that it would break up the college.

Councillor Victoria Mills said it was a “plan that demonstrates where and how local authorities can play a bigger role in developing skills and raising standards in FE locally through a devolved model of delivery.”

Campaigners argue that the 1,200 people awaiting for places in Esol courses will be left in the lurch.